Kellogg MBA Recommendation Questions
The Northwestern MBA application is live for the Class of 2029 — meaning that the Kellogg MBA recommendation questions for the 2026-2027 admissions season are now available to recommenders of Northwestern / Kellogg MBA applicants.
Applicants are asked to submit two recommendations from individuals who can objectively assess and speak directly about their professional experience and leadership promise. Recommenders are asked to provide background information about their relationship with the applicant and briefly respond to four questions about constructive feedback and how the applicant compares to others. It is preferred that one recommendation come from a current supervisor, but if that is not possible, the application provides a drop-down with several options to note why.
2026-2027 Northwestern / Kellogg MBA Recommendation Questions
Recommender Information
Context of Relationship:
- Current Direct Supervisor
- Current Skip-level Supervisor
- Board Member
- Client
- Colleague
- Former Supervisor
- Project Manager
- University/Academic
- Extracurricular/Community
- Other
Highest Degree Earned:
- No Degree in Higher Education
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- JD
- MBA
- MD
- Doctoral Degree
- Other
Are you a Kellogg Alumnus?
Have known candidate since:
Please comment briefly on the context of your interaction with the applicant and his/her role in your organization.
What has been the candidate’s most significant contribution to your organization? Provide measurable impact if applicable.
Based on your professional experience, how do you rate this candidate compared to their peer group?
- The best I’ve encountered in my career
- Outstanding (Top 5%)
- Excellent (Top 10%)
- Very good (well above average)
- Average
- Below average
- No basis
If needed, please explain any rankings above (max 250 characters).
Do you recommend this candidate for Kellogg?
- Recommend the candidate
- Recommend the candidate with reservations
- Do not recommend the candidate
Are you willing to speak with an admissions officer about this candidate? (yes/no)
Should the candidate accept an offer of admission, I understand I may be contacted by Re Vera Services as part of the application verification process, via phone and/or email, to verify authenticity of this letter of recommendation.
Recommendation Letter
After completing the assessment section above, recommenders are presented with the following Kellogg MBA recommendation questions for uploading in a letter:
- Share an example of how the candidate has engaged with colleagues, clients, or stakeholders who held perspectives different from their own. How did they navigate the situation, and what does this demonstrate about their ability to lead or collaborate in complex environments? (300 words)
- How does the candidate’s performance compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words)
- Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the candidate. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words)
- (Optional) Is there anything else you would like us to know?
MBA Applywire
Indian male
Spent 1.5 years at a bulge bracket in the India middle office, earned a transfer to the NYC front office where I was an analyst for a little over a year. Got early promoted to associate last year and have closed several public M&A transactions for my coverage group.
Planning to switch to venture capital post MBA, in the essays focusing my goals are impact investing VC funds which are slightly more niche but fit my overall narrative and story well.
Have several awards from college for national competitions (ideation challenges, debating, case studies)
Have some experience with angel investing as well.
Primarily targeting Harvard, Wharton, and Columbia.
Hi! I'm applying to the above schools & I'm hoping to be admitted somewhere with significant scholarship. I currently have 2Y 9 months YOE and was promoted twice at a BB bank (from analyst > associate > AVP) during that time period (also part of an LDP).
Had to step away in March for family caregiving duties, and I'm currently looking for another role, so I will enter the MBA at about 3.5-4 YOE.
I'm a female LGBTQ+ applicant, from SEA, though of Indian origins.
TIA!
Background
Canadian citizen
Indian Origin male, moved to Canada on my own after high school.
29 years old, first gen
College Diploma in Electrical Engineering (3.6 gpa)
BSc in Computer Science from Toronto Metropolitan University (3.72 gpa)
GMAT Focus: 695 (Q90, V84, DI79)
Work Experience
I've spent my entire career at FAANG company - Industrial Automation/Robotics, where I've been for over 6 years. I completed my undergrad while working full time, my company sponsored me for my undergrad and meanwhile also got three promotions.
Career progression:
1. Application Engineer (2 years) Started my career providing technical support and engineering solutions for customers. Worked directly with end users, and sales teams to help design and implement automation solutions, troubleshoot issues, and support projects from concept through deployment.
2. Business Development Manager (2+ years)
Moved into a commercial role focused on growing adoption of emerging technologies. Worked with customers across Canada to identify business opportunities, build relationships, develop go-to-market strategies, and help customers understand the business value of new solutions.
3. Customer Success Enablement (Current Role)
Currently in a national role responsible for driving adoption and success of strategic technologies across Canada. I work with customers, partners, sales teams, and executives to develop enablement programs, support major opportunities, and influence strategy around technology adoption and digital transformation.
Leadership & Community Involvement
Co-chair of my company's 2SLGBTQIA+ employee resource group in Canada. Formed this committee. Host quarterly events to spread awareness and promote inclusion.
Active member of the sustainability committee. Volunteer activities include tree planting, park cleanups, habitat-building projects, and STEM outreach.
Why MBA?
Short-term goal: transition into management consulting, ideally focusing on technology, industrials, digital transformation, especially around embedding Physical AI in manufacturing / robotics.
Long-term goal: become a senior business leader helping organizations navigate large-scale technology and business transformation.
Schools
Targeting:
Harvard Business School
Stanford GSB
Wharton
MIT Sloan
Kellogg
Questions
What would you estimate my chances are at each school?
Should Ieven bother to apply at each of HSW? I was told by someone that although I am Canadian, but because of Indian origins, my chances at HSW are slim since Indians are most overrepresented.
What do you see as the biggest strengths and weaknesses in my profile?
How can i stand out? I am still not sure about my goals, i am okay with both tech or consulting or general management but in tech company.
Which schools do you think fit my background the best? including schools other than m7
1. Diversity: I am an Indian Male.
2. Acads: I have a BTech-Mtech dual degree from an IIT (got admit here with like 99.9 percentile in 1M+ students).
BTech GPA is 7.3/10, which is improved to 9/10 in MTech. I am using optional essays to explain the lower acads in BTech. My MTech GPA and then GMAT Focus 745(Q90, V88) shows an upward trajectory, which should be helpful.
3. Work: I have 5 years of software development experience in a big european tech company.
4. Leadership: I don't have a formal title for leadership in work. But a lot of leadership without authority and my letters of recommendations from current and previous supervisors can vouch for that.
5. Why MBA: Trying to build something on my own exposed gaps which MBA would help me fix. I have a strong thread going on with my childhood, college, extra curricular and with what I tried to built. Post-MBA goal of Product Management role in tech would build on top of my skills I gain at MBA to help me move in the direction of tech leadership which is my long term goal.
6. Inclination: Schools which have good tech recruitment for PM role, help build leadership skills for my long term goals, have good alumni network in tech and PM roles, and lastly a collaborative community that I would prefer. I would prefer to get scholarships because of tight finances.
7. Definitely applying in R1: Kellogg, Haas, Ross, Tuck, Fuqua, MIT Sloan
8. Not sure about: Harvard (Not sure about fit), Stanford (low selection chances + 0 scholarships hopes), London Business School (keeping because of visa situation), Cornell (Tech is good but will it help for my long term goal), McCombs (Not T15 ), UCLA (Not T15)
Please help me choose right schools and strategy for fit + scholarships based on my inclinations mentioned in point 6 above.
I want to apply for a Part Time MBA because work is giving Tuition Assistance next year. Already have a decent salary with a consulting position.
Since I'm not leaving the Philadelphia area, I'm generally only considering part time programs in the area.
How does my profile look for Full time and Part Time however?